Free Dining

[mirthmaiden]

I'm so confused! I'm trying to decide on the DDP vs. OOP. I have a family of 6 and we want to do CRT, Fantasmic dinner pkg, Hoop Dee Do, and a couple of other "sit-down" places. I am leaning towards adding the DDP, but now I'm reading about the possibility of free dining and I'm not sure what that means and how it applies to me.

We are staying Aug 4th - 11th. I have an existing package booked w/o the DDP. Do I need to change it to start on the 5th instead to take advanage of free dining? What exactly is "free" dining? I'm assuming there are many limitations. If this is explained in detail somewhere on these postings, please direct me. Help me sort out what is the best way to go. Thanks!

 

[princesstigerlilly]

I'm sorry, I'm a bit confused. Has free dining been announced for the 5th of August??

 

[mirthmaiden]

That makes two of us being confused. I've read a couple of posts dated 2007 that refer to free dining starting on Aug 5th. It is all new to me, so I'm not sure. That's what I'm trying to find out

 

[princesstigerlilly]

Well, two free dining program have already been released, but not to the general public here in the US (unless something was released today and I don't know about it yet ).

One was free dining for UK residents only (offered late summer/early fall of 2006 for booking the same time of year in 2007). The other free dining program was offered in the late fall (Nov to early Dec, I think) to guests that were at a WDW resort during that time (the program was called 'Bounce Back', I think). Neither of these are available to us for booking today.

But, to answer your question the best I can, if free dining were offered Aug 5th, you'd either A.) check in on the 5th, changing your dates, or B.) have 2 reservations--one for one night, the 4th with no free dining, and the second for Aug 5-11th with free dining for those nights. Does that make sense?

As far as value goes, the DP can be an enormous value. With that said, we didn't chose it for our first trip, nor will we add it for our second trip. I do not want to work my vacation around my dining reservations. When we traveled last year, we spent about $150 less than the DP would have cost us. We had 5 TS meals during the week, the rest counter service, and we found the meals large enough to share most of the time. There is a huge variety of foods offered at counter service restaurants, it's not all burgers and fries. Also, we dine out a lot at home, so that isn't a big part of our vacation

I'd suggest you take a little time adding up the numbers. If you go to the menus on this site, you can see what is offered and how must it all costs. Add tip and tax. Then decide if you will eat the way the DDP is structured, and if you will be happy with it. Lots of people are thrilled with it, but it's not for everyone

 

[bicker]

Note that the two offerings 'lilly mentioned had different check-in start dates. From the FAQ: "The free dining promotion applies for arrivals starting August 5 (for the bounce-back offer) or August 12 (for the UK/European offer)..." While we still don't know if there will be any further offerings, and we surely don't know if any such offerings will be open to the public, we also don't know what the start date for check-ins will be.

 

[mirthmaiden]

OK, that helps some. Thanks for the replies. I think we'll just keep the package booked for Aug 4th for now and keep an eye on this board for news of the free dining offered to the general public.

As for whether or not to add the DDP, I'm thinking "yes" because of the expensive meals we want (Hoop Dee Do and Cinderalla's Royal Table). As far as I understand it, I still have to pay these in full at the time of booking?

Thanks for the info!

 

[bicker]

Hmmm.... I'm a little concerned about your logic. You said, "I'm thinking "yes" because of the expensive meals we want (Hoop Dee Do and Cinderalla's Royal Table)." It is very important to remember that those meals not only are expensive when paying with cash, but are also expensive when paying with Dining Plan credits. I recently posted a comparison between Le Cellier (1TS) and one of the 2TS restaurants. The dollar value per credit for Le Cellier was something like $56, while for the 2TS restaurant was around $25 per credit, because you have to use up two credits for each person.

 

[mirthmaiden]

Thanks. You're right of course. I sat down yesterday and did a spreadsheet of all the places we want to eat throughout the 7 days and it actually comes out perfect for TS credits with the DDP. The only thing that didn't come out just right is having to pay out-of-pocket for breakfast 3x, but we might just pack some stuff for that.

I called and added the DDP to my package yesterday based on this. BTW... I asked the cust. svc. rep about the possibility of free dining being offered and what impact it would have and she said "I don't know nothing about that" I understand that she can't answer in specifics, but she was quite adament in her denial. Must be they're getting a lot of questions.

Thanks for helping me get it straight!

 

[bicker]

I think they really don't know. If I were in marketing, I'd be sure that the front-line people don't know what I'm planning, if the public knowing would adversely affect my strategy, because if front-line people know, then the public will end up knowing.

 

[princesstigerlilly]

Mirthmaiden, I'm happy to hear you did the spread sheets and that you know the DP will work for you

Do you know that you can make your ADRs very soon? According to the PScalculator (here http://pscalculator.net/pscalc.php )you can make them on the 5th of Feb--Monday. CRT is a tough ticket to get but don't let that discourage you!

Happy planning!

 

[mirthmaiden]

Yep, I have it programmed on my speed dial. I've got my fingers all limbered up to dial Monday morning

I've heard so much about CRT being nearly impossible to get, but I went there back in 1998 (I think?) with a large group. I had no trouble at all getting a reservation back then, and I don't think I booked it more than a couple of months out.

I really hope to get in this time as DH is terminally ill. He and my step-daughters haven't had this experience before so it would be a very special event for us all.

 

[chemteacher03]

My wife and I (one year anniversary August 10th) are looking at staying from August 5th- August 11th. I haven't heard anything about free dining, but I would be extremely happy if it were true.

 

[Maria395712]

just joining to wait if they offer free dining
maria

 

[princesstigerlilly]

Yep, I have it programmed on my speed dial. I've got my fingers all limbered up to dial Monday morning

I've heard so much about CRT being nearly impossible to get, but I went there back in 1998 (I think?) with a large group. I had no trouble at all getting a reservation back then, and I don't think I booked it more than a couple of months out.

I really hope to get in this time as DH is terminally ill. He and my step-daughters haven't had this experience before so it would be a very special event for us all.

Awwwww sweetie, I'm heartbroken to read about your DH. I'll send some pixie dust your way Monday that you get your ADR on the first try, it would be very special indeed.

 

[1gr8mouse]

We will only go in Aug. if they offer free dining. I crunched numbers last night w/free dining vs. 40% off rack rate promo. The free DDD would be a far better deal. This is because we would stay at a moderate resort. If you go deluxe you might save more with the room discount.

COME ON FREE DINING!!!

If they dont do free dining we might have to take a cruise instead (not disney). They are OK but nothing compares to WDW!!!!

 

[theprincess]

We too are waiting for free dining!!!!!(Keeping our fingers crossed)

 

[thunderbird1]

We will only go in Aug. if they offer free dining. I crunched numbers last night w/free dining vs. 40% off rack rate promo. The free DDD would be a far better deal. This is because we would stay at a moderate resort. If you go deluxe you might save more with the room discount.

COME ON FREE DINING!!!

If they dont do free dining we might have to take a cruise instead (not disney). They are OK but nothing compares to WDW!!!!

Hey 1gr8mouse--my dh said the exact same thing last night, totally out of the blue. I think because he really enjoyed the all-inclusive feel of the DDP, it got him thinking about cruising again. Of course we'd prefer WDW with free dining (like you, we'd take WDW over almost anything else!), but we'd settle for a cruise. Poor us, right?

I think they really don't know. If I were in marketing, I'd be sure that the front-line people don't know what I'm planning, if the public knowing would adversely affect my strategy, because if front-line people know, then the public will end up knowing.

And right now, they're trying to sell packages for spring with the free park hoppers and water parks and more options. If they were to announce, or even hint at, free dining too early, they'd run the risk of too many people deciding to wait until fall, and they wouldn't sell as many spring packages.